Mostyn invests big in Garcia campaign

Houston plaintiff’s lawyer Steve Mostyn’s donations to former County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia and to political action committees that support her are dominating the special election race in Senate District 6, newly filed records show.

All told, Mostyn, his law firm and his allied political action committees account for well over $200,000 of Garcia’s contributions.

Yesterday, in new disclosures required 8 days prior to the election, Garcia reported receiving $2,250 from Mostyn, but “in-kind”contributions from the Texas Organizing Project PAC totaling $80,427.87. In her previous report, Garcia reported a $106, 611.39 “in-kind” donation from the organization.

In addition, Garcia reported receiving $10,000 from the Back to Basics PAC supported by Mostyn.

In December, Mostyn contributed $130,000 to the TOP PAC, and pledged another $132,000 in January. He and his firm have also made previous donations to Garcia totaling over $17,000.

Her chief opponent, Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, has received large donations from the Houston Police Officer’s Union, including $22,000 on her most recent report, which also disclosed a $15,000 donation from the Austin lobby firm, HillCo. She previously reported receiving receiving $25,000 from both Hillco and the police union.

In addition, three Houston energy executives donated a total of $30,000 to Alvarado: Kamarou, Kase and Mickey Lawal all donated $10,000 to her campaign.

Mickey Lawal made headlines in 2011 when Congolese officials detained him briefly in what they called a gold-smuggling scheme. He was arrested on board a leased private plane where government officials seized $20 million in gold and $6 million in cash. He was released after leaving the cash behind, according to newspaper reports. The incident is the subject of a lawsuit filed in Harris County in December by a pilot hired by the Lawals, who claims he was detained by Congo officials in a gold-smuggling scheme.

The other candidates are R.W. Bray, the Republican candidate who lost to Gallegos last fall; Democrats Susan Delgado, Joquin Martinez and Rodolfo “Rudy” Reyes; Republican Dorothy Olmos; and Green Party candidate Maria Selva.

With eight candidates, Saturday’s election is expected to produce a run-off. If that occurs, Garcia reported a cash reserve of $228,408 as of Tuesday, while Alvarado reported $109,742.